88 Films Unearth 80s Slasher Gem Evil Laugh for Limited Edition Blu-ray This November
Slasher fans, mark your calendars. 88 Films are diving deep into the blood-soaked vaults of 1980s horror once again, and this time they are resurrecting the gloriously over-the-top cult shocker Evil Laugh. This rarely seen splatter gem will slash its way into the UK as the 59th entry in 88 Films’ acclaimed Slasher Collection, arriving on Blu-ray on 10 November 2025 as a Region B release.
Originally unleashed in 1986, Evil Laugh emerged just as the first golden wave of slashers was beginning to wane. While many latecomers to the sub-genre faded into obscurity, Evil Laugh carved itself a loyal following thanks to its self-aware streak, inventive kills, and unapologetically camp energy. Co-written by and starring Steven Baio (brother of Scott Baio of Happy Days fame), this micro-budget gorefest features everything fans love about the era: eccentric synth score, buckets of blood, and even spontaneous dance sequences that have to be seen to be believed.
A Slasher Set-Up Straight From the 80s
The plot wastes no time delivering the carnage. A group of eager medical students descends upon a derelict foster home to restore it, blissfully unaware that a decade earlier, the building was at the centre of a scandal involving abuse and tragedy. As the group settle in for a supposedly wholesome weekend, a masked killer begins stalking them through the halls, delivering a string of bizarre and gruesome deaths. The infamous “microwave kill” alone has secured Evil Laugh a place in slasher history.
The film was directed by Dominick Brascia (who also appears on screen as the titular “Evil Laugher”), and features a cast of 80s cult regulars including Kim McKamy, Jerold Pearson, Myles O’Brien, Karyn O’Bryan and Tom Shell. While never a mainstream hit, the film has long been a sought-after oddity among collectors and slasher aficionados.
Packed With Bloody Bonus Features
88 Films are known for treating their cult classics with care, and this new Blu-ray is no exception. This release features:
- High Definition (1080p) presentation in the original 1.33:1 aspect ratio
- 2.0 LPCM Dual-Mono audio
- Optional English subtitles
- Audio commentary from the slasher-celebrating podcast The Hysteria Continues
- The Joy of Laughter: Making Evil Laugh – a feature-length (78 min) documentary with interviews from producer/co-writer/actor Steven Baio, actors Jerold Pearson, Karyn O’Bryan, Tom Shell, and many more of the original cast and crew
- Reversible sleeve artwork and a collector’s O-ring featuring the original poster art
- Illustrated booklet with a new essay from genre writer Calum Waddell
Technical specs include Region B coding, English mono audio, and an approximate runtime of 91 minutes. The film is rated 18.
A Forgotten Slasher Reborn
Although Evil Laugh never achieved the notoriety of genre titans like Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street, its mix of unhinged humour, self-referential tone, and outlandish kills has earned it cult appeal in the years since its release. Fans who missed out on the VHS and DVD era will finally be able to experience the film in crisp HD, complete with behind-the-scenes insights from the original team.
As the 59th title in 88 Films’ Slasher Collection, Evil Laugh looks set to become one of their most talked-about deep cuts yet. For collectors and horror fans alike, this release is shaping up to be the ultimate way to rediscover a lost piece of 80s slasher history.
The 88 Films Slasher Classics Collection has become a treasure trove for fans of vintage horror, offering beautifully restored editions of cult slashers from the late 70s through the 90s. Standout titles include Graduation Day, a 1981 high school-set whodunnit dripping with early slasher charm, and Slaughterhouse, a grimy 1987 splatterfest that revels in over-the-top gore and dark humour. Other fan favourites in the collection are The Boogeyman, Blood Theatre, Mountaintop Motel Massacre and Intruder, each presented with high-definition transfers, exclusive commentaries, and limited edition packaging. The collection continues to grow, spotlighting underseen gems that embody the wild spirit of the slasher boom era.
Preorder here at 88 Films
